So you're looking for some stylish kids' toys that aren't garish but are engaging enough to actually make the cut at playtime. Well, you're in luck. We've been testing toys for a year to bring the best children's toys on the market. Whilst we all know that style depends on personal preference and that one person's beloved couture coat is another's bagged-up charity donation. Some things just are or aren't stylish, and in the world of toys, the line is pretty clear-cut.
Most stylish kids' toys at a glance:
• Editor's pick: DJ Mixer Board, £39.99 on Trouva
• Best stylish block set: TickiT 73275 Rainbow Block Set, £37.53 on Amazon
• Best stylish doll toy: Children's Doll Set Made With Liberty Fabric, £19.99 on Zara Home
Plastic junk is out; refined wooden toys and purposeful toys are very much in. Kids are tat magnets - there is no doubt about it. But what if you don’t want your carefully curated home to be drowned in a sea of gaudy toys? And if it is plastic, then oh, please make it something cool, unique and well-made.
Don’t fear, for there are loads of options out there – you just have to know where to look. And as always, we at Grazia are very much in the know. Even your favourite stores like Zara have toys. We've done our research by meeting some of the biggest names in the industry, testing the products with our children and attending a host of toy events.
Here is our guide to the best stylish kids' toys. Make sure you bookmark this page, as we will keep updating it throughout the year as new toys are released.
SHOP: The Most Stylish Kids' Toys
Editor's pick
www.trouva.com
Move over, Annie Mac; we cannot get enough of this tiny DJ set. Not only is it super cool, but this children's DJ set is carefully crafted from sustainably sourced wood with e-zero formaldehyde-free glue and dyed with water-based dyes. This toy ticks so many of our boxes that we're putting it at the top of our list.
Pros
- Made from sustainable wood
- Beautifully crafted
- Imaginative
Cons
- Doesn't make sounds (but is that really a con?)
Best stylish block set
These acrylic blocks not only look great (especially when they catch the sun) but will also keep your baby or toddler busy, working on their motor skills.
Pros
- Good value
- Well made
- Nice colours
Cons
- Some customers said the blocks were smaller than they expected
Best stylish doll toy
www.zarahome.com
This children’s doll from Zara is made of cotton with a matching romper and booties featuring a sweet floral print. As always, Zara never misses. This doll is so much more stylish than your standard Raggedy Anne.
Pros
- Diverse toy
- The doll's outfit is made with Liberty Fabric
- Attention to detail
Cons
- No accessories
Best wearable stylish kids' toy
www.selfridges.com
This delightfully stylish coffee companion boasts whimsical waggly legs, a robust cord holder, and the cutest cheerful smile. We love that this toy is wearable with the cross-body strap and a zip-top lid, the Jellycat mocha bag effortlessly blends fashion with functionality, ensuring your little one is always on trend while keeping their essentials close at hand.
Pros
- Gender neutral
- Practical
- Soft straps
Cons
- Not big enough to replace their rucksack
Best stylish rocking toy
www.anthropologie.com
This toy by Manhattan Toy is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic rocking horse. It swaps a pony for a fuzzy elephant, complete with floppy ears, a trunk and a tall crown that sits on a curved wooden base.
Pros
- It has safety seat straps.
- Unique design
- Curved wooden base
Cons
- Difficult to clean
Best stylish toy for car lovers
This is the perfect little (non-plastic) gift for car lovers, designed by a small family business and crafted from sustainable rubberwood. All of Indigo Jamm Store toys are designed by a team in the Surrey Hills and are tested by established testing houses to EN71 & ASTM standards.
Pros
- Good quality materials
- Promotes fine motor skills, and problem-solving abilities
- UK based company
Cons
- Some customers said the faces of the people weren't perfect
Best stylish scooter for kids
www.my1styears.com
Scooters are a great way for kids to burn off some of that endless energy. Banwood is our favourite brand for bikes and scooters because of its classic and chic designs.
Pros
- It has an adorable wicker basket.
- It can be personalised with up to 10 characters.
- Retro design
Cons
- Assembly required
Best multi-use toy
www.notonthehighstreet.com
These versatile wooden blocks can be used to form each letter of the alphabet, Pictionary images or can be simply stacked. These are perfect for arty households.
Pros
- It comes with a luxury cotton storage bag
- The collection can be expanded
- Multi-purpose toy
Cons
- There isn't a guide/instructions
Best trending stylish toy
www.selfridges.com
It's the toy that had TikTok and YouTube whipped up in a storm at the tail-end of last year. The Cookeez Cinnamon Treats oven is a fantastic toy which incorporates real life into play.
Pros
- Interactive
- Engaging
- Multi-sensory toy
Cons
- Extra plushies will be needed for ongoing baking
10.
Alpaca Soft Toy
Best stylish animal toy
www2.hm.com
The H&M alpaca is super soft, has embroidered details and would make a fantastic feature in any nursery. We love that this soft toy can stand up on its own and works as both a nursery decoration and a toy.
Pros
- Soft
- Sewn-on ears and tail
- Embroidered details
Cons
- Unwashable
Best stylish toy for mini-fashionistas
www.argos.co.uk
Style BAE is all about fashions that stick – and more than anything, lots of mix-and-match reusable vinyl cling stickers to create over 850 unique looks. Whilst some of the outfits are... questionable, we love that this encourages kids to explore their sense of style, and we cannot get enough of the reusable stickers.
Pros
- Includes clothing rack and seven fashion cards
- Reusable sticker wardrobe and accessories
- Customisable
Cons
- Plastic
Best stylish imaginative play toy
Let little ones explore their inner stylist with a set of must-have styling tool toys that look just like renowned Dyson products. Encourage creativity with these little Casdon's Dyson toys.
Pros
- Real-world toy
- Realistic lights and sounds
- Compatible with the Casdon Ultimate Styling Case (sold separately)
Cons
- Batteries not included
Best stylish roleplay toy
Enjoy hours of fun with this little roleplay barista play set. This adorable toy coffee machine is designed to look just like the real De'Longhi la Specialista coffee machine. We love that this set has realistic sounds and moving parts, which helps to create a real-life atmosphere.
Pros
- Realistic sounds
- Moving parts
- Fabulous 'real-world' toy
Cons
- Plastic
Best stylish toy for newborns
www.libertylondon.com
This soft Miffy toy is soft and suitable from birth. It has been crafted from recycled polyester inner, making it a great sustainable option. This Liberty Fabrics’ Michelle print makes it a super stylish option.
Pros
- Soft padding
- Liberty Fabrics’ Michelle print
- Suitable from birth
Cons
- Hand wash only
Best stylish tummy-time toy
www.fenwick.co.uk
Get your little one excited for tummy time with cool Croco. The tummy time pillow will help strengthen your baby's neck and back while enjoying sensory playtime. The activity toy has many sensory features to encourage your baby to have a longer and more active tummy time while looking great in your living room.
Pros
- Help strengthen your baby's neck and back.
- Sensory features
- Cute design
Cons
- Wipe clean only
Best unique, stylish toy
Ok, while we know this isn't the most sleek design, we couldn't get over how cute this miniature claw machine was. As soon as we saw it, we fell in love with this miniature arcade machine that is seriously fun - we aren't ashamed to say we spent a few hours playing this.
Pros
- Unique
- Engaging
- Re-fillable
Cons
- Plastic
Best educational stylish toy
www.kidly.co.uk
This wooden alphabet-shaped puzzle looks fantastic and is colourful without being too much. This is a puzzle that teaches in a fun and physical way. There's even a storage bag for easy tidying up.
Pros
- It comes with a storage bag.
- Great way to exercise hand-eye coordination
- Promotes letter co-ordination
Cons
- It may not be engaging for older children
What do we look for in a stylish kids' toy?
• Fun: First and foremost, a toy has to be fun. Of course, no one wants to have an eye sore in their home, but if a toy isn't fun, it's just going to collect dust. We've ensured that all of the toys in this guide are fun and child-approved.
• New: We try to stay up to date with the newest toys on the market. We are forever scouring the internet, scrolling through TikTok for the best toys and attending events.
• Material: Kids aren't known for delicate play. We've included toys that can take a beating and are durable and robust enough to make it to the end of the year.
• Aesthetically appealing: We know the pain of purchasing a huge plastic toy that will take up half the living room regardless of how fun it is. To combat this, we've looked for stylish kids’ toys that marry functionality and design (and get extra points if they are compact).
• Educational: Toys are a fantastic way of teaching children. Kids learn best through educational play, whether it is roleplaying, developing fine motor skills, or just learning to share. These are the skills that will see them through to adulthood.
What is the latest toy craze in 2024?
One of the biggest trends this year is sustainably sourced and eco-friendly toys. We've seen a huge step in the right direction from toy manufacturers with the use of wood and recycled materials. This shift reflects a broader industry awareness of the importance of reducing ecological impact and promoting responsible consumption, fostering a more sustainable future for both the toy industry and the planet.
Hannah Carroll is a Parenting, Lifestyle and Home Product writer for Grazia, specialising in product testing and reviews. With three children, Hannah loves testing the latest industry products on her own family.